April 2015 thread 7: Our viable, wriggling bumps have us walking belly-first into the new year!

[BrixtonBunny]

New thread xx

Hi Navy! Don't really have any advice about drinking more - I couldn't drink 3L a day as I wouldn't get anything done for peeing! The midwife did say last time I saw her that my urine sample was a bit concentrated so I am trying to make more of an effort - I find having a bottle of water to hand on my desk at work all day is a good start and make sure it all gets drunk!

Wow I hadn't even considered all of these bath dilemmas. Too much to think about at the moment - think I might use the bathroom sink/normal bath to prevent buying a baby bath that will have nowhere to live.

I thought about a movement monitor but don't think I will get one - a friend had one and it alarmed randomly a few times causing panic when baby was fine, and as long as I follow all of the advice to prevent SIDS I think baby should be safe enough. I think they are quite expensive too?

I haven't been measured yet, have my 28 week appt next week (28 weeks tomorrow yey!) and midwife said she would start measuring then. From previous experience you're 'allowed' 2cm either side of the number of weeks you are - and also I found that two people could measure the same bump and get slightly different numbers, more important that baby is growing consistently over a few weeks

Has anyone else noticed their moles seem more prominent? I caught one on my back scratching the other day and made it bleed a bit. I know skin changes in pregnancy are normal but I can't remember every mole on my body doing this last time. Very bizarre.

Oooh exciting StuntNun! Let us know how it goes!

I hadn't thought about bathing either! Well not in too much detail anyway. I just had it in my head that I needed a baby bath. I'm about to write my list of things we need (finally!). Well as soon as a find a piece of paper anyway!
Whilst I was at work today my mum sent me a text message with a picture of a changing station that she has bought for us! It's a second hand one from a lady she knows which she used with her little boy. It's the only 'big thing' from the list that we have so far! So I feel ready to start getting other things ticked off now!l

Hopefully going to the shops tomorrow (if I feel up to it, haven't been bothered to properly venture our the past few days!) to start getting some craft things together to start making a patchwork quilt for baby boy!
X

Lauren John Lewis do the metal frame with towel on it for bath. We have one it's brilliant. Means you don't have to kill your shoulders by holding them up all the time.

Haven't noticed moles doing anything different.

Welcome Navy. I defo don't drink that much and didn't when preg with DD either. I'm in the loo quite enough as it is!

DD very into me ATM which is delightfully sweet in some ways but also frightening me as I'm obviously going to be busy with newbie in April. Going to have to come up with strategies to ensure I give her loads of time while she's not at nursery so she doesn't feel ignored. This may involve leaving her new brother to have a wail in a bouncer for ten mins every now and then. Really hope I can force my mum into donating herself to me body and soul for first three months!

Oh and here's a question for everyone (although it's probably already been answered and I've missed it!) and I don't want it to turn into a debate! But has anyone thought about whether or not they'll be trying breastfeeding?
I haven't given it too much thought as yet. I don't really know how I feel about it? I know a lot of people are very for it and will not hear of ladies who choose not to breast feed.
I suppose everyone is different and it depends on the individual, and the baby of course. I've heard a few ladies say that they wanted so much to breast feed but it just didn't work out for them.
So my question is, breastfeeding, expressing or bottle from the start?! X

RL20 I would love to breastfeed but unfortunately the medication I'm on for my crohns isn't proven to be safe for bf'ing. I have done a lot of research into it and there is limited studies into whether it passes into breastmilk and they all seem to be conflicting - some say it does, some say it doesn't, some say it does but not enough to be harmful... I have spoken to OH at great length about it and keep going back and forth on decision but at the moment we are looking at being exclusively formula feeding.

I really want to breastfeed, but don't judge those who don't. I'm expecting it to be painful to start with but have my mum and a couple of friends with experience of successful breastfeeding who are willing to help me do it. I am going to do my research before the birth and give it a really good go, but if it doesn't work then I'll try not to be too upset.

edited to add - I start NCT antenatal classes next month and apparently they are very pro-breastfeeding. I really hope that I don't come up against many people that try and question my decision to formula feed... not a decision I take lightly at all and am quite sensitive about it so really hope that I don't get any nasty comments!

Lucy, I hope they're not judgemental with you either. As like I say it's personal preference and in your case you obviously have good reasons health wise to not be able to do it.
I hadn't even thought of health reasons etc. My mum mentioned to me that she didn't breast feed me, although we didn't go into detail as it was just in passing conversation so I'll perhaps talk to her about it.

Banana yes I would of thought it'd be slightly painful too. I think research is a good idea providing I can find some helpful for's and against's and not just information telling you to breast feed.
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I wanted to at the start, then I realised my thyroid issues would probably mean I wouldn't have a good enough supply.

So I've bought everything for bottle feeding, including the prefect prep machine and I think we will just go for formula now.

I also selfishly want to be able to drink and don't want to have to feed every 1-1.5 when formula tends to be 3hrs or so (depending on the baby of course).

I might be lucky and get a good supply but I'm not going to stress out about it.

RL I'm planning to exclusively breastfeed, but similarly to banana I'm expecting it to hurt and be tough and demanding at the beginning. I'd really like to do it, but if I can't for some reason I'll try not to be too upset - you can get the same bonding from lots of cuddles and eye contact whilst you bottle feed.

Navy if you work then you could try doing what I do - I make myself constant mugs of decaf tea / herbal tea / honey & lemon, and every time I refill my mug I get a big glass of water too. I try and make myself get up often to refill and having it in front of me reminds me to do it! I also have been drinking a LOT of water with added lemon juice, or sparkling water, which is more interesting. Remember juice / squash / hot drinks all count, as well as fruit and veg which will have lots of water in! I tend to take apples and clementines to work every day at the moment.

Im hoping to breast feed. I know it'll probably be tough but Im really going to give it a good go. Im a bit nervous that I might not be able to as I have a health condition that could get worse after birth and the medication they'd offer would mean I wouldn't be allowed.

for my eldest I sooooooo badly wanted to breast feed, but couldn't. My poor baby was starving while I tried, one day he stayed latched for 2 hours and sucking and when I pulled him off he was still crying in hunger :( so he was formula fed with the tiny bit of breast milk I could get added to it.

With youngest I'd found out that due to medical stuff I don't produce as much as someone normal. So he was breast fed with formula top-ups, and my supply dried up in about 3 months but he was happy to use formula anyway (with the infant gaviscon added due to his colic)

so this time I'm aware it'll be a mixture again at best. So won't cry like I did for the eldest when I realised I couldn't feed him, I was heartbroken!

RL I am defo going to EBF again. I am far too lazy and tight-fisted to bother with sterilising and formula. There's something rather magnificent about feeding your baby from your own body - and I'm no hippy (elective sections all the way).

Expect it to be painful first two weeks when DS latches on but will use medella nipple shields every other feed until it eases.

I have an irrational hatred of formula (same views on dummies I'm afraid!) but crucially this doesn't translate into judging anyone else, I couldn't care less what other people choose to do and would never comment.

I am very greedy and as vain as the next woman, so I love how much you can scoff when EBFing.

I am still feeding DD at bedtime (only 5 minutes) two weeks before she turns 3, so yes, I will breastfeed...

Siarie, my thyroid didn't affect my supply. I was diagnosed when DD was 7 months old...
OK, maybe this is why I had to give both sides at each feed but she grew and thrived...

I'm really hoping I'll take to breastfeeding. I've had loads of advice from friends who managed it really well so that's counteracted against all the bad stories I've read online. I remember watching a show on BBC3 about breastfeeding and being shocked at the pain and distress some women go through so while its my first choice, I wont beat myself up if it doesn't work.

Another one who hadn't even considered baths yet! Eek, showing my utter cluelessness! I think I will try with the kitchen/bathroom sink first as I know from lots of super cute photos that that is the way my mum washed me!

I still need the cot (though realistically this can wait until bambino is about 6months old as I have a crib for next to my bed), steriliser and breast pump, mattress and sheets for crib, and im sure there is loads more too! I need to make a proper list as I'll just end up randomly buying too much of one thing and be totally stuffed when the big day arrives!

Neville I'll be 24+4 at my 20-week scan due to a mixup with the dates. I'm not too worried as I had a gender scan at 18 weeks and the sonographer already checked quite a lot of the stuff they'll be looking at tomorrow seeing as she got the gender in about five seconds.

RL20 I will be exclusively breastfeeding as there is a family history of allergies and exclusive breastfeeding is supposed to help with that. My DS1 wouldn't latch on so he had to be fed using nipple shields which meant I didn't have any soreness with feeding at all. My DS2 was a pretty good feeder and I didn't get particularly sore with him. My DS3 had a lip tie and tongue tie and I did get a bit sore for the first few weeks. The trick is to put loads of Lanisoh on after every single feed as it stops the nipples getting so sore and it also heals any irritation very quickly. It really doesn't take long to get into the swing of things and then it shouldn't be sore at all.

I think I'm going to formula feed from the start.

I breastfeed my DD for 2 months and it was so painful. I thought it was normal at the time but on reflection it wasn't. I could only feed using nipple shields and couldn't even put a towel round me I was so damaged from her chomping!
( she was a chomper which was causing the problems )

I also ( selfishly ) found it hard that only I could feed as she refused a bottle and I found it so draining. She had silent reflux and basically hardly slept for the first two months so that all added to the stress and probable lack of coping!!

I then kept getting mastitis which was HORRENDOUS so then decided to go into formula.

I feel guilty this time not giving it a try but i think it's for the best- also my DD will be 15 months so won't understand what's going on so being on bottles and anyone able to feed the baby will help.

Everyone must do what they think is right and must not be pressurised into a particular choice. Good luck to those to give it a go- It is a fabulous feeling but also don't be hard on yourselves If it doesn't work.
I personally never felt I bonded with DD despite BF her. I have now but don't think that feeding has a definitive influence on it for those that are concerned.

Just seen your post misty - thank you that's very sweet of you! Hope your doing well!

I'll be ebf again hopefully, I really enjoyed it with DD, the first few weeks were stressful as we got used to each other but I can safely say it never really hurt me. DD ended up a really good feeder and only fed every 3-4 hours so my milk must of been pretty filling. I know others who gave up quickly as they felt it never filled them.

I have issues with formula too but don't judge people for going that way, you never know this one might not bf well. I always get the feeling it's got empty calories in it to fill them for longer. It's probably not true but I can't help getting that impression.

With DD I must have been asked a million times how I was planning on feeding her and every time i said 'I hope to bf if I can.' I got an eye roll and a condescending 'of course you will be able to' from the the health professionals. (I wasn't naive enough to think it would work for me like I wanted it to but they seemed pretty optimistic considering they didn't know me or what my baby would be like)

we used a plastic bath insert in the normal bath. A bit like a plastic armchair. Not expensive, much smaller than a baby bath, and so much easier than holding a slippy baby up.

I bf last time and hope to again. Fingers crossed. Though it may end up with a bit of mixed feeding so DH can help.I doubt I'll have time to express this time.

Right... Lots to reply about and can't remember any of it! Hang on a sec...

Ive written a huge post on bfing and then not posted! I don't want it to come across as judge because I'm not at all but I feel strongly that women should bf and should be well supported which they're often not. I succeeded with ds1 through bloody mindedness and eventually a midwife who knew what she was talking about! I strongly dislike society in general's attitude towards feeding and having had good experiences bfing my two I hope that this one being in hospital won't affect my ability to bf him as I want to do for him what I have with my others. Plus I don't want to have to sterilise or to have the expense of formula! I don't believe not bf makes you less bonded to your child, that is utter nonsense!